Order in the court

Family Court in St. George has for years been notorious as the scene of chronic overcrowding and delays. That’s largely because almost 10,000 cases are filed there each year on an often bumpy path to justice, despite the overstretched personnel and cramped quarters.

So it’s no wonder that Judge Helene Donlan Sacco, who supervises the court, is hailing the opening of an annex to the building at 100 Richmond Terrace, which is located across the street from Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

“To say this is a momentous occasion would certainly be an understatement,” Judge Sacco said about the debut of the one-story modular structure housing two new courtrooms.

Bringing order to Family Court is vital. Hundreds of Islanders pass through its doors each day to deal with matters such as family disputes and cases of child abuse, neglect and juvenile delinquency. It also has jurisdiction along with Surrogate’s Court in adoptions.

In Family Court, cases include violence by spouses and former spouses, alimony and disputes over child custody, support and visitation rights. Other issues: Paternity and support of children born out of wedlock.

The court also has legal jurisdiction over all youths between the ages of 7 and 16 - except for “designated felony” cases, when a child may be prosecuted as adult for murder or other violent crimes.

Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, administrative judge for city’s Family Courts, acknowledged that litigants on Staten Island, their lawyers and court personnel have had to make do with less.

“For many years, the Richmond County Family Court had to do more and more under circumstances in which other courts wouldn’t be able to function,” she said. “I’m so delighted” with the new annex.

It will be the domain of Judge Arnold Lim, who was transferred to Staten Island Family Court in August after spending more than a decade on the bench in Brooklyn.

Now, the Island has three full-time Family Court judges, including Judge Sacco and Karen B. Wolff.

Judge Lim, a North Shore resident, will mostly handle child-protection cases. Judge Wolff also presides over those cases in Family Court.

The big changes began last year when Judge Sacco was named supervising judge of Staten Island Family Court. Previously, the court here had been overseen by the supervising judge of Brooklyn Family Court, who visited Richmond County only periodically.

In her new assignment as the court’s first-ever borough-based supervisor, Judge Sacco, an Island native, has been able to enhance and expedite operations.

Further progress is due in Family Court.

It will move to the existing state Supreme Court building in 2013 when that court reconvenes in a new structure still under construction.